2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
151,705 MOT tests on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are in this dataset, and 80.7% of them passed. Against executive cars of a similar age (17.0% fail rate), the 2013 C-Class comes out 2.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.0%) and brakes (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, ball joint and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 5,855 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.9% versus 9.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.8% fail against 20.4% for diesel, a 4.7-point gap across 151,701 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.0% | 12,183 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 11,806 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 9,863 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 7,488 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 4,500 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 2,342 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 5,855 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 5,646 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,812 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 4,234 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,691 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 3,635 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.0% | 39,478 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 36,941 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.6% | 28,233 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.4% | 9,716 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 6,724 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 6,443 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 3,516 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 27,068 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 51,029 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 39,464 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 19,711 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 10,872 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 116,573 | 20.4% |
| Petrol | 35,128 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,862 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 30,862 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 30,677 | 19.4% |
| 2024 | 30,345 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 28,959 | 21.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 C-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (7.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Tyres (6.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Classs pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 151,705 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Suspension, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by brakes (7.8%).
Does the 2013 C-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 151,705 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.